NFL HOF Spotlight: LaDainian Tomlinson

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on LaDainian Tomlinson, a dual threat running back who played primarily for the San Diego Chargers. As a running back, Tomlinson offered more than just rushing. His insanely impressive receiving abilities were another feather in his hat. Throughout his career, Tomlinson torched defenses with quick cuts and explosive acceleration, making him nearly impossible to contain.

In this article, we take a deep dive into Tomlinson’s unforgettable football career.

A Horned Frog’s Rise

Age nine was a beautiful year for Tomlinson—it was the beginning of the greatness to come. That year, he joined the Pop Warner Little Scholars football program and scored a touchdown the very first time he touched the ball. He went on to become a high school football superstar.

After high school, Tomlinson accepted an athletic scholarship from the Texas Christian University. In his junior year playing for the TCU Horned Frogs, he set a Division I single-game record, rushing for 406 yards in a game. In his senior year, he was named Unanimous All-American while also winning the Doak Walker Award as the best college running back.

Desperate to revive their running game, the Chargers selected Tomlinson as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 draft.

Professional Football Career

The job on Tomlinson’s shoulders was a huge one but he carried it quite well and made a name for himself while at it. His 11-season career was one that any child would dream of. Although some see Tomlinson’s lack of a Super Bowl ring as a void in his otherwise exceptional career, the fact that a running back is judged by that standard only highlights how great he truly was.

Revitalizing the Chargers’ Running Game

The Chargers’ running game was a brutal mess before Tomlinson’s arrival. They finished the 2000 season with a terribly disappointing team total of 1,062 yards—the least by any team in a 16-game season. Tomlinson quickly took responsibility as he rushed for 412 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first four NFL games. By the end of his rookie season, he had surpassed the team’s rushing record in the previous season, amassing 1,236 yards. But that was just the first of eight consecutive years of rushing for more than 1000 yards.

Tomlinson was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and came second in the voting for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award—only behind Chicago Bears’ Anthony Thomas. Despite Tomlinson’s efforts, however, the Chargers finished the season with a 5-11 record. But Tomlinson had set the tone for what would become a legendary career.

The appointment of Marty Schottenheimer in the following season was a key step in unlocking the full force of Tomlinson’s brilliance. Schottenheimer had a reputation for favoring the running game, releasing Tomlinson to have the time of his life on the gridiron. Of course, Tomlinson made the most of the opportunity, breaking and tying numerous records in that season.

Career Peak

Tomlinson remained a key figure on the Chargers roster for most of his career. However, he reached the peak of his career in 2006—which frankly, was high up there as one of the greatest peaks for a running back in NFL history. The regular season started on a high for both Tomlinson and the Chargers. They bulldozed the Oakland Raiders 27-0 in the opening game, with Tomlinson bossing the running game.

Against the Denver Broncos in Week 10, Tomlinson added yet another milestone to his legendary career, becoming the fastest player to score 100 touchdowns, accomplishing the feat in just 89 games. He helped lead the Chargers to another AFC West title, their second since his arrival and the first of four consecutive division crowns to follow.

That season, he led the league in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and scoring. In the MVP voting, it was as clear as day who should be given the crown. Deservedly, Tomlinson won the NFL MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year awards. But he didn’t just stop at being the best player of the season, he etched his name in the history books, setting records that have stood and still stand today. He set and holds the single season record for the most rushing touchdowns, most touchdowns from scrimmage, and most points scored.

Elusive and Explosive

Beyond Tomlinson’s love for breaking records, he was a joy to watch in his playing days. Tomlinson had incredible pace and vision which he used to absolutely torment defenses. His abilities made him dangerous in open space. Stopping him was a task and a half as he could break tackles and evade defenders. The distinctive dark visor he wore for health reasons caused more problems for defenders as it prevented them from reading his eyes.

A dual-threat, Tomlinson was also brilliant in the passing game. Throughout his career, he caught 624 passes for 4,772 yards and a further 17 touchdowns. During his career, Tomlinson completed 8 of 12 passes for seven touchdowns with no interceptions—a feat surpassed only by Walter Payton in the Super Bowl era.

Like Lawrence Taylor, Tomlinson was also known as L.T., and he became worthy of sharing the same initials with the legendary linebacker. At the time of Tomlinson’s retirement, he ranked fifth all-time in rushing yards with 13,684 and second in rushing touchdowns with 145.

Career Achievements

Tomlinson played for genuine passion and the honors just naturally followed. Selected to five Pro Bowls, he earned three First-team All-Pro honors and three Second-team All-Pro recognitions. In 2006, Tomlinson received several awards, including NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and the Bert Bell Award.

Having a knack for scoring touchdowns, Tomlinson finished as the league’s leader in rushing touchdowns three times. He was also a two-time NFL rushing yards leader and once led the league in scoring. A Chargers legend by all standards, he became an inductee of the Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame in 2015.

Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

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